MXYTSPLYK

ARTIST & MASTER ILLUSIONIST

A couple of years ago, when I first moved to the Design District/Wynwood area, the now demolished Chiquita Banana Plant (above) was still on NE 2nd and 33rd street. The plant particularly caught my eye because back then we were developing the “tropi” brand and banana’s were one of the symbols we initially used to associate it. As I got to know the locals, I discovered that the Chiquita Banana Plant I had my eyes on had been hit up by a local artist. I’ve gotten to know the artist and have been following his sketches, photography, and street art ever since.

It had been homegrown artist, MXYTSPLYK, that hit-up the Chiquita Banana plant in collaboration with MALARKEY, who he claims to be another Miami-based multimedia artist (but we suspect that is really his alter ego). The MXYTSPLYK vs MALARKEY artwork is presented there at the plant and throughout the city in various forms, tangible and otherwise.

GARBAGE PAIL SERIES

MXYTSPLYK’s latest artwork is a series is inspired by Garbage Pail Kids (also known as “Basuritas” to those of us who grew up in Latin America). The series of trading cards, produced by the Topps Company and originally released in 1985, were designed to parody the then popular Cabbage Patch Kids dolls.

“Willy Wynwood lost everything he ever loved.” >

< “Gnarly Charlie could not control his minds eye.”

“Alouishous San Gomma flew too high like Icarus.” >

< “Shitty Shitty Bang Bang can and will cut a baby.”

“Mick Split torn by demons chooses enlightenment.” >

Similarly to the sticker cards created of the Garbage Pail Kid characters, MXYTSPLYK’s series also has comical abnormality, deformity and/or suffering a terrible fate, with a humorous, word play-rich character name.